Abstract: Improved strength of contemporary construction materials allows architects and structural designers to experiment with structural forms and span ever greater distances. This development results in innovative, light, slender and aesthetically pleasing structures, such as footbridges and grandstands, that often represent city landmarks and attraction for visitors. These, usually low-frequency and lightly-damped, structures are often prone to excessive in-service vibrations when exposed to dynamic excitation by humans (such as walking, jogging and jumping).

To improve vibration serviceability assessment of new structures, better modelling of human actions and interaction with the vibrating (lively) structures is required. This talk makes an introduction into human-structure research at Warwick and comments on some future developments.